Are you thinking about adopting a dog from the pound? Would you like to pick up a pure breed dog from a breeder? Whether you prefer a purebred dog or a versatile mixed breed, you will add hours of enjoyment to your life when you get a pooch. A lot of responsibility is involved, and reading this will help you understand what you can expect.
It is expensive to own a dog. Food, vet care and supplies can add up quickly. Pet health insurance can help; although you will pay a monthly or yearly fee, you will often be covered if a big medical emergency occurs for your pet.
You must dog-proof your residence. Your entire home should be safe prior to bringing the dog inside. Cleaning supplies and medications should be locked away, and any indoor trash cans need to be put in a cabinet. Many common types of house plants can be toxic, so it pays to eliminate or move them.
Table Scraps
Try not to feed your dog any table scraps. This will only teach him to beg constantly and also inhibit his appetite toward his regular food. Feeding table scraps to your dog could lead to digestive problems or obesity. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
Never take your dog away from home without a leash, even if he is well-behaved. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. Your dog’s actions and safety is your responsibility.
Take the time to correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. This could lead to huge problems down the road.
Some dog breeds are more prone to problems than others and you should know if your dog could have problems. Check out their heritage and try to prevent problems that you know they’re prone to. Talk to the vet to find out what you are able to do to assist your dog in beating the prognoses of his breed.
Make sure your let your dog know you love him. Like many things in life, many owners pay much more attention to bad behavior than good behavior. This could lead to trouble down the line. You should mostly focus on praising and petting your dog when you notice a good behavior. Your dog will probably show proper behavior more if this is done.
Help your dog to stay active mentally and help him to exercise enough. Train him to fetch the newspaper and help with other household chore. The training will challenge him mentally and the affection you show for a job well done will bond him to the family routine.
Keep a close eye on a female dog when she’s in heat to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. A male dog can smell a female in heat from up to five miles away. This may also make other dogs fight and it could also get her pregnant which will make her have puppies from an unknown source.
Be sure that your dog has some kind of identification in case it were to escape from your home. Have your dog wear a type of breakaway collar with identification to make sure they’re returned to you. The tag needs to have your name and phone number on it. You may also want to install a micro-chip into your dog.
Take your dog to the vet regularly. Dogs need to be checked for heartworm and other health issues, and need to have any and all necessary vaccinations. You will have more frequent vet visits if you have a puppy. If your dog becomes ill or is injured, don’t delay in getting him to the vet.
Don’t judge the health of your dog by his wet, cold nose. Sick dogs often have cold, wet noses. Judge your dog’s health by energy levels, appetite and demeanor. These can be great ways to know how your dog’s health is. You can also check your dog’s temperature rectally.
You now know what it takes to care for your dog as best as possible, so you are ready to bring your new mutt or purebred home! Keep learning more about owning dogs if you have any further questions on the subject. Discussing dog tips and ideas online in a forum can be very useful. Learning is something that you should always try to do.
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